First look: Norton's 2012 desktop, smartphone security push
Norton today released an updated version of its Norton 360 desktop and mobile security software, while also rolling out a new licensing arrangement for combined PC, Mac and Android use.
In addition, Norton announced a novel plan for a new kind of customer support called "Norton One" that involves individualized unlimited assistance for customers who are mystified by computers, security and software -- if they're willing to pay the annual membership fee.
Symantec's Norton 360 Version 6, available for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, is desktop security combining network intrusion prevention, Norton's "Sonar" behavior-based protection, its "Insight" reputation analysis for malware, an antivirus engine and Web-based anti-phishing protection, among other features. The latest version of Norton 360 adds bells and whistles, such as the introduction of a Web portal so customers can access passwords they commonly use anywhere. Its "Download insight" capability, which had been in beta, will give users feedback on how safe it is to download a file.